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On Tuesday, Maine voters let their voices be heard on a number of important issues.

Election Days are always exciting, and on Tuesday, I was gratified that Maine voters showed their support for job creation, innovation and economic development.

Voters approved an investment of almost $27 million dollars to advance Maine’s energy independence.

That investment, which will help to attract more than $24 million dollars in matching resources, will help our State become more energy efficient and develop new cutting-edge technology.

Paired with other federal and State, nonprofit and private resources, the investment will solidify the role of the University of Maine as a leader in the development of off-shore wind energy.

On Monday U.S. Secretary of Energy Steven Chu will visit the Advanced Structures and Composites Center at the University.

The federal government -- through the hard work of Senator Collins who invited Secretary Chu to Maine, Senator Snowe, Representative Michaud and Representative Pingree – is a strong partner with our State and the University.

Together, we are working to build an offshore wind energy demonstration site in Maine waters.

The site will attract private-sector investment and help to strengthen a new industry in Maine – the manufacturing of wind energy components.

Our efforts have earned the support of the Obama administration, attracting more than $25 million dollars in grants to help develop offshore energy.

In addition, on Monday Maine joined with nine other states and the U.S. Department of Interior to establish The Atlantic Offshore Wind Energy Consortium.

This is a group that will work to streamline the review and siting process for offshore wind projects in federal waters.

It can take more than seven years for a wind project to make its way through the federal bureaucracy.

That’s too long.

Opportunities will be missed.

This group will work to reduce that time, while also making sure the process protects the environment and that development is done responsibly.

Maine has a tremendous energy resources off our coast.

The work going on today will create thousands of new jobs, and translate into a cleaner, safer energy future.

Maine is already a leader in alternative energy and conservation.

We lead New England in wind power, with 95 percent of the region’s generation capacity.

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Since August 29, 2014

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